Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) moves in the pocket during the second quarter of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports Matt Bush, Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) carries the ball during the second half of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports Matt Bush, Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) attempts a pass during the second half of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports Matt Bush, Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

"We would not oppose a waiver of the year in residence requirement based on a legitimate reason for any student-athlete who wants to transfer from Ole Miss. With the waiver in questions, the way it was written, we had no choice but to respond the way we did. With anyone who leaves our program, we wish them the best academically and athletically. At this point, it's not really our matter; it's an NCAA and Michigan matter."

Patterson, a third-year QB, left Ole Miss and transferred to Michigan after he says he was misled by the school and its former coaching staff, led by Hugh Freeze, with regard to the scope of an NCAA investigation that ultimately put the program on probation.

Patterson is in the process of petitioning the NCAA for immediate eligibility and still hopes to play in 2018 without having to sit out a year due to standard NCAA transfer rules.

His attorney, Thomas Mars, has vehemently opposed Ole Miss' decision to object to this waiver request.

“There’s no reason to put lipstick on this pig,” Mars told USA TODAY SPORTS on Tuesday. “I’m convinced that ‘doing the right thing’ never even crossed anyone’s mind in Oxford when the decision-makers at Ole Miss were deciding what to say to the NCAA about Michigan’s request to allow Shea to be under center next season.

"The only reason Ole Miss is trying to stop Shea from being able to compete this fall is pure spite.”

Mars explained how Ole Miss had the option of supporting Patterson's claim, saying nothing or objecting. Obviously the school went with the latter.

Michigan has not made any formal comment on Patterson's appeal request as the situation is now in the hands of the NCAA. Neither the athletic department nor head coach Jim Harbaugh has noted any type of timeline as to when they'll hear about his eligibility for 2018.

The NCAA received Michigan's formal waiver request for Patterson late last month. It's now up to the organization to rule on whether or not he'll be eligible.

If his request is not granted, he'll have to sit out this season before having two years of eligibility remaining starting in 2019. Patterson has been a full participant in Michigan's spring practice. He's been taking quarterback reps with Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton.

Michigan will go through its spring game Saturday in Ann Arbor. Patterson has been a full participant with the program during spring ball and, as a transfer, has no practice restrictions.

He'll be able to compete when the Wolverines take the field inside Michigan Stadium this weekend. Anything beyond that is up to the NCAA.